The best digging tools for the new allotmenteer

Lotus-eater

A._Badger wrote: »

I got very close to buying a Bulldog spade, having researched the subject to the point of boredom (!) but what finally put me off was how poorly finished it was. I found a rack of them, all brand new, and all with rough woodwork.

It may just be me being fussy, but I don't think there's any excuse for that sort of thing when you're buying what is supposed to be a premium product.

That said, Bulldog certainly has some very vociferous supporters.

It may have been a bad batch, I had no way of telling. Instead I got a refurbished George Cohen & Sons spade that looks like it could still dig the Panama canal.

They do have a rough finish, I was surprised when I got mine. But I'd prefer them to put the moneys worth into the strength and build quality tbh, rather than making it look pretty and it costing another £20.

Leif

A._Badger wrote: »

It may have been a bad batch, I had no way of telling.

No. The finish is atrocious. I bought one today, and I'll see how it pans out. The finish is odd, as I suspect the Chinese ones are machine made. So I guess the English ones must be hand made. I know labour costs are much higher here, so perhaps to remain competitive they have to produce items that look like sh... errr, not cosmetically perfect.

cyclonebri1

Lotus-eater wrote: »

See what you are doing, is arguing about something you obviously know very little about.
And not making yourself look very clever whilst doing so.

Well if that's how you react to an apology then tis you that is non too clever.

The scenario is that the op has a run down allotment, not something that has superb well aerated soil, it will be a good while before he/she has it in that condition where no digging could be an option.
The biggest issue is that without decent tools, (and I notice the op was already considering a rotovator), they are likely to find it too much and give in as many do after a couple of seasons

Come up and take a look on our local alotment holders site and try telling them they can get away with a no dig policy, :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:, that's the reaction you would get.

You have your opinion, it's just that, it's not gospel and others disagree and have a right to.

cyclonebri1

Leif wrote: »

As I understand it, no-digging cropping is a way of growing vegetables without having to dig the ground each year. It works because you do not walk on the soil, and hence it does not become compressed. Farmers cannot practice this technique because tractors, combines etc are heavy machines which compress the soil and hence it will need to be ploughed to break it up. But the amateur gardener can avoid walking on beds by constructing paths either side, and making sure the beds are not too wide, so that the grower can easily reach all of the plants from the paths.

I also have a clay soil, but I am extra fortunate as I also have huge flints in the clay. Digging the soil can be an absolute pain in the backside, especially when the soil dries out. Anyway, there are some areas of the garden where the soil is a beautiful loam, due to the plants that have grown there depositing organic matter, and breaking the soil with their roots. You can do likewise, by digging the soil down a foot or more, and mixing in large amounts of compost and perhaps some horticultural sand. I am constructing some deep beds with paths either side, so I can avoid having to dig the soil each year.

Yes of course I fully understand that, but the op is taking over a new/very over run allotment, they have to do all the work you mentioned, I wouldn't tackle it without mechanical help

Personally I want to open the soil regardless of whether it has been walked on or not, to enable manuring, free drainage and movement of top soil, but that's just me.